Structural improvement for main shaft of ram type tooling machine

ABSTRACT

An improvement in a ram type milling device having a swivel head structure. The ram is movable in opposite longitudinal directions. An auxiliary section is rotatably coupled to the ram for 0-360 degrees rotation relative thereto. An output head section that carries the output shaft, is rotatably coupled to the auxiliary section for 0-360 degrees rotation relative to the auxiliary section and/or the ram. The machine body of the device has a shaft hole formed therein for receiving one of the ends of a milling tool carried by the output shaft. Guide rail and guide feet are also provided for supporting and guiding the milling tool when desired. A milling tool carried therein by this device may be selectively moved in any of six directions or planes, as desired or needed for working on a workpiece.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to structural improvements to ram typemilling devices (machines) and, in particular, to elements that may beassociated with the ram and which may rotate up to 360 degrees relativeto the ram, so that a milling tool carried thereby may be moved andadjusted in at least six different directions, and to elements forplacing and securing a horizontal cutter bar, so as to permit verticaland horizontal operations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a structural improvement for a ram typemilling device of the type that includes the coupling plane of alongitudinally-adjustable ram terminates in an oblique plane that ispositioned at a 45 degree angle relative to the remainder of the arm; anauxiliary section that includes a rearward coupling plane that iscoupled to the oblique coupling plane of the ram and an oppositeinter-output plane. The auxiliary section further has a substantially 45degree bend formed therein between the two planes thereof; an outputhead section is coupled with the inter-output plane of the auxiliarysection. This output head carries the output shaft therein; theauxiliary section and the output section are independently rotatable upto 360 degrees relative to the ram. In this manner, along with thelongitudinal movement of the ram provided by appropriate means, theoutput shaft may be moved in either first or second longitudinaldirections, as well as in respective third, fourth, fifth and sixthclockwise and counterclockwise rotational directions.

Further, the ram type milling device of the present invention isequipped with a shaft hole formed therein below the ram. The shaft holeis provided, so that when the tool is a horizontal cutter bar, one ofthe ends of the bar (the forward end) is received and supported therein.

The bent, oblique or curved rams, auxiliary sections and/or output headsections described herein may be substituted by such conventionalcomponents as desired or needed, so that an overall 90 degreedifferential angle is provided therein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of the present invention, with portions thereofbroken away for the sake of clarity.

FIGS. 1A-1F illustrate the various six positions (planes) in which atool carried by the device of the present invention may be selectivelyadjusted.

FIG. 2 is another side view of the device of the present invention withportions thereof broken away for the sake of clarity.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the ram type milling device of thepresent invention.

FIG. 4 is a side view of another embodiment of the device of the presentinvention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view, substantially corresponding to theembodiment of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a side view of still another embodiment of the device of thepresent invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view substantially corresponding to theembodiment of FIG. 6 and further showing, by arrows and in phantomlines, the movement of the output shaft in the six different directions(planes).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Conventional ram-type milling (tooling) machines have a ram that is ableto longitudinally move forwardly and rearwardly. They also include auniversal main shaft head that is capable of selective 0-360 degreerotation and positioning. Another auxiliary section is provided with oneof its ends coupled to the base. This auxiliary section has a 45 degreebend formed therein, terminating in a forward output (inter-output)oblique plane. An output head section has a rearward coupling plane forcoupling with the output oblique plane of the auxiliary section forselective 0-360 degree rotation and positioning by either mechanical ormanual means. This output head section carries an output shaft forwardlyof the rearward coupling plane, so as to permit the shaft to be movedupward/downward, forward, leftward/rightward in five directions (planes)and block-free position adjustment for cutting workpieces. Also, thisarrangement is useful as a common-type for driving the horizontalcutter-shaft from the internal side by means of a vertical main shaftthat has horizontal milling frame accessories affixed thereto.Unfortunately, the use and affixation of such accessories reduces thestrength thereof and is not convenient. This arrangement can also beuseful for common types to drive, from the internal side by the verticalshaft, by means located on top of the vertical cutter head structurethat is affixed to an auxiliary support arm. Unfortunately, the additionof such an auxiliary support arm increases the cost and weight of thedevice.

Also, for practical reasons, the output shaft often needs to be moved ina sixth direction (plane) to perform inward milling, such as on auniversal milling machine.

The device of the present invention is applicable for and permits suchinward movement of the output shaft in the sixth direction (plane) toperform inward milling. This is achieved by providing a shaft hole(which may either be a through hole or a blind-ended bore) whichreceives therein an end of the horizontal cutter shaft. The output shaftof such a device is thus able to be moved in, and to do processing in,six directions (planes), as is shown in FIGS. 1A-1F.

With particular reference now to the figures, the various embodiments ofthe device of the present invention is illustrated. As can be seen, thedevice is an improvement in a ram-type milling device (machine) of thetype that has a machine body, a ram that is carried by the machine bodyfor sliding longitudinal movement of the ram in a first forwarddirection and in a second rearward direction. Conventional drivemechanisms or means are provided for longitudinally moving andselectively adjusting the longitudinal position of the ram. Aconventional locking mechanism (means) is provided for locking the ramin the selected longitudinal position. A milling tool is operativelyassociated with the ram for concomitant longitudinal movement therewithin the first and second directions (planes). Finally, appropriatemechanisms (means) are provided for driving the milling tool.

Referring in particular now to FIGS. 1 and 2, in addition to theconventional structures noted above, in a first embodiment, the deviceof the present invention includes the following features.

The ram 101 which is able to shift (longitudinally move or slide)forward (in a first forward direction) and backward (in a secondrearward direction) for adjustment and driving (i.e., during milling)has a forward end that extends from the machine body 110 and a secondend that is operatively slidably connected thereto. The forward end ofthe ram 101 terminates in a 45 degree oblique plane 102 that ispositioned at a 45 degree angle relative to the remainder of the ram101.

An auxiliary section 103 having a forward output (inter-output) plane105 and a rearward coupling plane 104 is provided. The rearward couplingplane 104 is parallel with and rotatably coupled to the forward end 102of the ram 101. In this fashion, the auxiliary section 103 may beselectively rotated from between 0-360 degrees relative to the ram 101(co-axial rotary adjustment). The auxiliary section 103 also has asubstantially 45 degree bend formed therein for allowing the outputplane 105 to be adjusted and locked relative to the ram 101 in any ofvarious angles or on any of various planes.

An output head section 106 is provided having a rearward coupling plane107 that is parallel with and rotatably coupled to the forward outputplane 105. In this fashion, the output head section 106 may beselectively rotated and positioned from between 0-360 degrees relativeto the ram 101 and the auxiliary section 103.

An output shaft 108 is carried by the head section 106 forwardly of therearward coupling plane 107. The output shaft 108 has a longitudinalaxis that is positioned, so as to be substantially parallel to therearward coupling plane 107 of the head section 106. The output shaft108 further has a longitudinal bore (shaft hole) 109 formed therein forreceiving and securing the milling tool therein.

In the above manner, the milling tool may be moved in the first forwardand second rearward longitudinal directions by longitudinal movement ofthe ram 101. Further, the tool may also be moved in a third clockwiseand a fourth anticlockwise directions by rotational movement of theauxiliary section 103 and the head section 106 relative to the ram 101.Finally, the tool may also be moved in a fifth clockwise and a sixthanti-clockwise directions by rotational movement of the head section 106relative to the auxiliary section 103 and the ram 101.

The machine body 110 of the device (including those devices having avertical column-type machine body or an elevated-type machine body) hasa shaft hole (or a blind-ended bore) 111 formed therein located belowthe ram 101. In this fashion, when the tool is a horizontal cutter bar112 having a first end received and secured in the longitudinal bore 109of the output shaft 108 and driven thereby, the second opposite end ofthe cutter bar is received in the shaft hole 111.

Further, the ram 101 has at least one lower guide rail 113 formedthereon. Guide feet 114 are disposed on the guide rail(s) 13, so thatthe horizontal cutter bar 112 is supported by the feet 114. The guidefeet 114 furthermore are adjustable along the length of the guide rail113.

With reference now to FIGS. 4 and 5, a second embodiment of the deviceis illustrated. With the exception of those features to hereinafter benoted, the elements of this embodiment are the same as those of theembodiment seen in FIGS. 1 and 2.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5, the forward end of the ramterminates in a substantially vertical plane that is located at a right(90 degree) angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the ram. Theoutput head section has a substantially 45 degree bend formed thereinbetween the rearward coupling end thereof and the output shaft 401carried thereby. In this fashion, the output shaft 401 (and the millingtool 402 carried therein) is located, so that the longitudinal axisthereof is located on a substantially 45 degree angle relative to therearward coupling plane of the head section.

Formed as described above, the second embodiment seen in FIGS. 4 and 5is capable of selective adjustment and positioning in any of the sixdifferent directions (planes) mentioned above.

With reference now to FIGS. 6 and 7, a third embodiment of the device isillustrated. Again, with the exception of those features to hereinafterbe noted, the elements of this embodiment are the same as those of theembodiment seen in FIGS. 1 and 2.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 6 and 7, the forward end of the ramterminates in a substantially vertical plane that is located at a right(90 degree) angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the ram. Theauxiliary section has a substantially ninety degree (90 degree) bendformed therein between the rearward coupling end thereof and outputplane thereof. The head section is coupled by the rearward coupling endthereof to the output plane of the auxiliary section. The output shaftis carried by the head section along a longitudinal axis that issubstantially parallel to the rearward coupling plane of the headsection.

I claim:
 1. In a ram type milling device of the type having a machinebody, a ram carried by the machine body for sliding longitudinalmovement of the ram in a first forward and in a second rearwarddirection, means for longitudinally moving and selectively adjusting thelongitudinal position of the ram, means for locking the ram in theselected longitudinal position, a milling tool operatively associatedwith the ram for concomitant longitudinal movement therewith in thefirst and second directions and means for driving the milling tool, theimprovement thereupon comprised of:the ram having a forward end thatextends from the machine body and a second end that is operativelyslidably connected to the machine body, the forward end of the ramterminating in an oblique plane being positioned at a 45 degree anglerelative to the remainder of the ram; an auxiliary section having aforward output plane and a rearward coupling plane, the rearwardcoupling plane being parallel with and rotatably coupled to the forwardend of the ram, so that the auxiliary section may be selectively rotatedfrom between 0-360 degrees relative to the ram, and the auxiliarysection having a substantially 45 degree bend formed therein; an outputhead section having a rearward coupling plane being parallel with theforward output plane and rotatably coupled thereto, so that the outputhead section may be selectively rotated from between 0-360 degreerelative to the ram and the auxiliary section; an output shaft carriedby the head section forwardly of the rearward coupling plane, the outputshaft having a longitudinal axis positioned, so as to be substantiallyparallel to the rearward coupling plane of the head section, the outputshaft further having a longitudinal bore formed therein for receivingand securing the milling tool therein; such that the milling tool may bemoved in first forward and second rearward longitudinal directions bylongitudinal movement of the ram, the tool may further be moved in athird clockwise and a fourth anticlockwise directions by rotationalmovement of the auxiliary section and the head section relative to theram, and the tool may still further be moved in a fifth clockwise and asixth anticlockwise directions by rotational movement of the headsection relative to the auxiliary section and the ram; and the machinebody having a shaft hole formed therein located below the ram, the ramhaving a lower guide rail formed thereon and guide feet that aredisposed on the guide rails, so that when the tool is a horizontal barhaving a first end received and secured in the longitudinal bore of theoutput shaft and driven thereby and a second opposite end, the secondopposite end may be received in the shaft hole and supported by thefeet.
 2. In a ram type milling device of the type having a machine body,a ram carried by the machine body for sliding longitudinal movement ofthe ram in a first forward and in a second rearward direction, means forlongitudinally moving and selectively adjusting the longitudinalposition of the ram, means for locking the ram in the selectedlongitudinal position, a milling tool operatively associated with theram for concomitant longitudinal movement therewith in the first andsecond directions and means for driving the milling tool, theimprovements thereupon comprised of:the ram having a forward end thatextends from the machine body and a second end that is operativelyconnected to the machine body, the forward end of the ram terminating ina substantially vertical plane; an auxiliary section having a forwardoutput plane and a rearward coupling plane, the rearward coupling planebeing parallel with and rotatably coupled to the forward end of the ram,so that the auxiliary section may be selectively rotated from between0-360 degrees relative to the ram and the auxiliary section having asubstantially 45 degree bend formed therein; an output head sectionhaving a rearward coupling plane being parallel with the forward outputplane and rotatably coupled thereto, so that the output head section maybe selectively rotatable from between 0-360 degrees relative to the ramand the auxiliary section; an output shaft carried by the head sectionforwardly of the rearward coupling plane, the output shaft having alongitudinal axis positioned, so as to be located on a substantially 45degree angle relative to the rearward coupling plane of the headsection, the output shaft further having a longitudinal bore formedtherein for receiving and securing the milling tool therein; such thatthe milling tool may be moved in first forward and second rearwardlongitudinal directions by longitudinal movement of the ram, the toolmay further be moved in a third clockwise and a fourth anticlockwisedirections by rotational movement of the auxiliary section and the headsection relative to the ram, and the tool may still further be moved ina fifth clockwise and a sixth anticlockwise directions by rotationalmovement of the head section relative to the auxiliary section and theram; and the machine body having a shaft hole formed therein locatedbelow the ram, the ram having a lower guide rail formed thereon andguide feet that are disposed on the guide rail, so that when the tool isa horizontal cutter bar having a first end received and secured in thelongitudinal bore of the output shaft and driven thereby and a secondopposite end, the second opposite end may be received in the shaft holeand supported by the feet.
 3. In a ram type milling device of the typehaving a machine body, a ram carried by the machine body for slidinglongitudinal movement of the ram in a first forward and in a secondrearward direction, means for longitudinally moving and selectivelyadjusting the longitudinal position of the ram, means for locking theram in the selected longitudinal position, a milling tool operativelyassociated with the ram for concomitant longitudinal movement therewithin the first and second directions and means for driving the millingtool, the improvement thereupon comprised of;the ram having a forwardend that extends from the machine body and a second end that isoperatively connected to the machine body, the forward end of the ramterminating in a substantially vertical plane; an auxiliary sectionhaving a forward output plane and a rearward coupling plane, therearward coupling plane being parallel with and rotatably coupled to theforward end of the ram, so that the auxiliary section may be selectivelyrotated from between 0-360 degrees relative to the ram and the auxiliarysection having a substantially 90 degree bend formed therein; an outputhead section having a rearward coupling plane being parallel with theforward output plane and rotatably coupled thereto, so that the outputhead section may be selectively rotated from between 0-360 degreesrelative to the ram and the auxiliary section; an output shaft carriedby the head section forwardly of the rearward coupling plane, the outputshaft having a longitudinal axis positioned so as to be locatedsubstantially parallel to the rearward coupling plane of the headsection, the output shaft further having a longitudinal bore formedtherein for receiving an securing the milling tool therein; such thatthe milling tool may be moved in first forward and second rearwardlongitudinal directions by longitudinal movement of the ram, the toolmay further be moved in a third clockwise and a fourth anticlockwisedirections by rotational movement of the auxiliary section and the headsection relative to the ram, and the tool may still further be moved ina fifth clockwise and a sixth anticlockwise directions by rotationalmovement of the head section relative to the auxiliary section and theram; and the machine body having a shaft hole formed therein locatedbelow the ram, the ram having a lower guide rail formed thereon andguide feet that are disposed on the guide rail, so that when the tool isa horizontal cutter bar having a first end received and secured in thelongitudinal bore of the output shaft and driven thereby and a secondopposite end, the second opposite end may be received in the shaft holeand supported by the feet.